diff --git a/tools/perf/util/unwind-libdw.c b/tools/perf/util/unwind-libdw.c
index 046a4850e3df..ff32ca1d81ff 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/unwind-libdw.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/unwind-libdw.c
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ int unwind__get_entries(unwind_entry_cb_t cb, void *arg,
 
 	err = dwfl_getthread_frames(ui->dwfl, thread->tid, frame_callback, ui);
 
-	if (err && !ui->max_stack)
+	if (err && ui->max_stack != max_stack)
 		err = 0;
 
 	/*